Lawrence can be the global leader in green jobs creation. It is ideally suited for the challenge.

Three cheers for the Valley Patriot on it's 5th Anniversary.  This upstart is creating a platform for new voices to be heard throughout the Merrimack Valley.  One of those new voices is us, writers of the Innovation Valley column.  For the past three years our column has been a regular feature and we are grateful. As readers of the Innovation Column know, it's goal is to highlight the world's leading initiatives for municipal business development and quality-of-life improvements.  Every month we report on a program that provides opportunities for the Merrimack Valley.

A sustainable future is not something that can only be enjoyed by certain segments of society or by certain parts of the planet. Many "green" innovations have been displayed in beautifully crafted, yet very expensive homes and buildings. The real, holistic purpose of living sustainably is so that everyone can live cleaner, healthier lives and leave the Earth less of a mess for future generations to clean up.

by John Michitson and Seth Itzkan Background The future of Haverhill's downtown is at a critical juncture. Hundreds of new residential units, mostly apartments, are complementing longstanding stylish restaurants and shops in the downtown. Yet, there are still missing pieces to the puzzle that must be solved before critical mass can be reached in the downtown.

Michitson makes regional economic development presentation to the Haverhill City Council.

Skilled Worker Condos and Modern Commercial Mix Are Keys to Haverhill’s Downtown Renaissance

On less than one mile of riverfront property, the seeds of a new economic revolution are taking root. The world’s largest green condo development is underway in the conversion of Wood Mill.